IMPORTANT CHANGES AT BOOKS FOR LESOTHO INC. (B4L) BOARD LEVEL
At the B4L AGM in November 2025, your newsletter editor relinquished the position of Foundation Chairman of the B4L Board of Directors. I’ll not canvas the history here, rather anyone wanting the up-to-date history of B4L should request it through enquiries@booksforlesotho.org. Foundation Director, Peter Murchland, was elected by the Board as my replacement. These actions are part of changes the board planned from early 2025.
Another signicant change came about when Foundation Board Direcor and Treasurer, Wayne Turner, did not re-nominate. Wayne has been been a strength to B4L over the years, and he will be greatly missed. Wednesday volunteer at The Barn , Rob Langley, announced his resignation as a Director.Thanks Rob for your time on the Board. We look forward to your continuing contribution, with Julie, at The Barn. A new Director, Mrs Agnes Sroka-Kukucz has been appointed to the Board whereupon she accepted the position of Treasurer. Welcome, Agnes, to this “Nation-Building Project”* *so designated by our colleagues in Lesotho.
IMPORTANT VISIT TO LESOTHO BY B4L REPRESENTATIVES
During November, 3 Directors of B4L, David and Liz Linn and Peter Murchland together with Peter’s wife, Alice, made a short visit to Lesotho. The visit followed planning work the B4L Board undertook during the year. The first task in-country was to review operations with the 3 B4L partners and also with a leading light in literacy in Lesotho, Ms Monica Letsoha. The culmination of the visit was to discuss, during a “plenary session”, ideas such as those in the following list: School selection, Book distribution, Supporting infrastructure (bookshelves and systems), Library management training and Program evaluation
B4L invited representatives from a wide range of NGOs to the session, NGOs that we thought would help B4L check the veracity of the topics raised, and, more importantly, help carry concrete ideas forward within Lesotho. The B4L representatives were “blown away” by the interaction and responses on the day. Most importantly, most of the attendees agreed to join a WhatsApp group which will be hosted by B4L partner, Transformation Resource Centre. The WhatsApp group is intended to be the catalyst for action on the agreed opportunities to improve literacy in Lesotho through schools.
Images above, left to right: Some attendees at the plenary session; David being decorated with a traditional Lesotho blanket; Liz receiving a beautiful stole. (These presentations were made in recognition of the contribution David and Liz have made to improving literacy in Lesotho in the years since 2006.)
Images below; left to right: Alice and Peter being welcomed by members of Rotary; with their gifts; attendees at the plenary session at the following social event. Acknowledgement for images: provided by Monica Lesoha.
BIG THINGS HAPPEN IN SMALL SPACES
After the events in Maseru, the B4L group ventured south and saw amazing things happening in the regional
town of Morija where B4L books have been distributed widely. Then on to the very small rural location of Malealea. We stayed at the Malealea Lodge where entertainment is provided every evening (even the day it poured with rain) with singers, dancers and a local band (using home-made “instruments”). The drummers have presented at two Adelaide Womad events.
There, David and Liz visited the one-roomed library and childrens’ centre called Paleng – The Place of Stories.
The wonderfull programs offered childeren and yonug people after school in this remote place are typical of what we have seen or heard about in many location in Lesotho. Set in the countryside shown in the first image and hosted by the high school (last image), the Centre is desperate to expand (obvious from the other images). We were introduced to the Centre by the local coordinator, Khothatso, who is also the barman at the Lodge!
THE VALUE OF READING TO DEVELOPMENT
Recently I read about student achievements in one school in Australia: Central Coast Grammar (in New South Wales). This school was one of the schools that topped national tests in maths and English. The head of teaching, Damon Cooper, was reported as saying that cultivating a love of reading and writing that goes beyond the classroom is key to students’ success. He said that last year, the school was placed in the top 20 in the State for HSC (Year 12) English advanced and extension results – a feat staff attribute to the strong reading culture at the school.
I was reminded during our recent visit to Lesotho that the Lesotho school library project, spearheaded by the books B4L sends, is a “nation-building project”. Where the books are used effectively, literacy and academic levels of the students improve. Their interest in attending school can change too.
DELIVERIES – Who has delivered books from September this year?
Southern Cross Care Carmelite and Waterford, Lions Club of Angaston and District Book Shed, Glenside Lions Bookmart, Rotary Club of West Beach (was Kidman Park) Book Mart , Northfield Primary School, Scott Creek Primary School, Blackwood Lion Club Book Shed, Adelaide Hills Library Service, Treasure Boxes, St Johns Grammar School – Belair, St Columba’s Anglican Church, Scotch College, Seymour College, Reynella East College, Immanuel College Senior School, Woodend Primary School, Our Lady of Grace – Glengowrie, Horizon Christian School – Clare and several private donations.
We thank you ALL including those who facilitated the donations! (I’m sorry if I missed some!)
The most recent shipment of books was sent to the Rotary Club Mantsopa arrived in Maseru, Lesotho, on 12 December ready for distribution. With this shipment B4L has delivered 362,205 books to our partners in Lesotho at a shipping cost of $158,000 (that’s about 54c/book) – all raised through your donations.
By 31 January 2026 we will have about 20,000 books packed ready to ship. Will you help us fund the (budgeted) $11,000 shipping costs?
May you have a happy Christmas and a very rewarding year in 2026
David Linn
Foundation Director and Past-ChairmanBooks for Lesotho Inc.TO DONATE